Sunderland’s Lamine Kone has pulled out of the Ivory Coast squad due to his knee injury and will remain on Wearside for treatment.

The defender had been included in Les Elephants’ squad for friendlies against Russia in Krasnodar on Friday, and then against Senegal in Paris next Monday.

But the 26-year-old picked up an injury in training with the Black Cats on Thursday which forced him out of the weekend draw against Burnley at the Stadium of Light, and has also prompted his withdrawal from international duty.

Lamine Kone (Image: PA)

Moyes confirmed on Saturday that Kone had twisted his knee but that a scan had revealed no major damage.

And the Sunderland boss is hopeful that Kone will be fit to resume training within a week and be ready to play in the next game against Watford at Vicarage Road a week on Saturday.

“On Thursday, at the end of training, we were doing some heading practice and he twisted his knee,” said Moyes after the Burnley game.

“We had it scanned and there’s nothing there, it [Kone’s recovery time] is more like days or a week.